Vehicle cabin configuring apparatus

• US 10,556,519 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2018
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dry, Alan George, Line, Johnathan Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Millner, Monica E
• Application Number:
  US16/031,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20200016999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/01 Arrangement of seats relative to one another
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0264 characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/072 Complex cross-section, e.g. obtained by extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0722 Constructive details
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0806 with pin alignment systems, e.g. with at least one of a plurality of locking pins always aligned w.r.t. at least one of a plurality of pin-receiving elements

Abstract

A vehicle cabin configuring apparatus includes a rail assembly and a seating assembly. The rail assembly includes a first channel that includes data and power connectors. The rail assembly also includes a second channel with a drive cable. The seating assembly includes a drive arm that is selectively engagable with the drive cable, locking pins that are selectively engagable with the rail assembly, and rollers that engage with a third channel of the rail assembly.

Claims

1. A vehicle cabin configuring apparatus, comprising:

a rail assembly, comprising;

a first channel comprising power connectors;

a second channel comprising a drive cable; and

a seating assembly comprising;

a drive arm selectively engagable with the drive cable;

locking pins selectively engagable with the rail assembly; and

rollers that engage with a third channel of the rail assembly.

2. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

glide bars positioned between the rail assembly and the seating assembly, wherein the glide bars decrease a coefficient of friction between the seating assembly and the rail assembly.

3. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 2, wherein the glide bars are coupled to the seating assembly such that the glide bars traverse the rail assembly with the seating assembly.

4. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive cable comprises a first thickness and a second thickness alternately positioned therealong.

5. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 4, wherein the drive arm engages with at least one section of the first thickness of the drive cable and at least one section of the second thickness of the drive cable.

6. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second thickness of the drive cable is greater than the first thickness of the drive cable, and wherein the second thickness of the drive cable is a load-bearing section of the drive cable.

7. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seating assembly further comprises a track bracket that engages with the rail assembly and is generally sinusoidal in shape.

8. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 7, wherein the generally sinusoidal shape of the track bracket defines a central raised portion that is flanked on either side by upturned portions.

9. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 8, wherein the third channel of the rail assembly comprises downturned portions that engage with the upturned portions of the track bracket such that the seating assembly is vertically and horizontally retained to the rail assembly.

10. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 8, wherein the rollers of the seating assembly are positioned within an underside of the central raised portion of the track bracket.

11. A vehicle cabin configuring apparatus, comprising:

a rail assembly, comprising;

a first channel comprising data and power connectors;

a second channel comprising a drive cable;

a seating assembly comprising;

a drive arm selectively engagable with the drive cable;

locking pins selectively engagable with the rail assembly;

rollers that engage with a third channel of the rail assembly; and

glide bars positioned between the rail assembly and the seating assembly.

12. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 11, wherein the seating assembly further comprises a track bracket that engages with the rail assembly and is generally sinusoidal in shape.

13. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 12, wherein the generally sinusoidal shape of the track bracket defines a central raised portion that is flanked on either side by upturned portions.

14. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 13, wherein the third channel of the rail assembly comprises downturned portions that engage with the upturned portions of the track bracket such that the seating assembly is vertically and horizontally retained to the rail assembly.

15. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 13, wherein the rollers of the seating assembly are positioned within an underside of the central raised portion of the track bracket.

16. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 11, wherein the glide bars decrease a coefficient of friction between the seating assembly and the rail assembly.

17. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 11, wherein the glide bars are coupled to the seating assembly such that the glide bars traverse the rail assembly with the seating assembly.

18. A vehicle cabin configuring apparatus, comprising:

a rail assembly, comprising;

a first channel comprising data and power connectors;

a second channel comprising a drive cable with first and second thicknesses distributed therealong;

a seating assembly comprising;

a drive arm selectively engagable with the drive cable;

locking pins selectively engagable with the rail assembly;

rollers that engage with a third channel of the rail assembly;

glide bars positioned between the rail assembly and the seating assembly.

19. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 18, wherein the drive arm engages with at least one section of the first thickness of the drive cable and at least one section of the second thickness of the drive cable.

20. The vehicle cabin configuring apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second thickness of the drive cable is greater than the first thickness of the drive cable, and wherein the second thickness of the drive cable is a load-bearing section of the drive cable.